Question:
OK, picture the scene....
My PC started going and sounding slow, over a week or so. I powered up my PC and nothing. So had the power unit replaced - ok. When I then powered up, it wouldn't get me past the initial start up where it checks my ide drives. I rebooted a few more times, some times getting a bit further and freezing sometimes getting to the checking ide drive bit and stopping. (Got error message something like - registry failure at line 14. Registry failure at line 15. Anyway, a bit frustrated, I gave the side of the PC a friendly and 'gentle' tap. My PC powered up normally. Now, I regularly have to go through this process to power up my pc.......HELP!!
A brief history;
PC approx 7yrs old. Was win98, but in the last 18months had win xp home put on. I still have the 'old C-drive' on my PC (I store all my pics on that drive- now F-Drive).
Sometimes when I get these problems, it looks as though it is trying to load up win 98.
I recently downloaded Win IE 7 (before my trouble started)- Had a lot of trouble registering that. I reistered online, and everything seemed ok, but whenever I powered PC back up it said that I had to register again, or within 3 days I wouldn't be able to use it. Registered and re-registered a few times, and then all seemed ok.
I have also recently installed; win defender, CCleaner, spybot and Zone alarm. I am running norton anti virus.
I had my pics as screensavers on desktop, but someone told me this may have been why my pc was freezing (although I have had them on there for years - no problems), so have no screensaver now, slight improvement. But there doesn't seem to be a specific time or event that triggers the freeze.
PC sometimes is incredibly slow, other times it is just as fast as I am used to.
So techies, is my PC knocking on the the doors to pc heaven, or is there something else wrong that can be fixed.
Thoughts please.
Newboy
Answers:
If there is anything important on there, I'd back it up (see backup sticky thread), while you can..
Have you run chkdsk on the hard disk yet?
Sure you have no malware (sticky thread).
Does the registry error come up at every boot?
Have you checked that all the cabling is seated properly, especially the HD?
Is XP a legit copy?
Check the event log for any errors.
Does it run ok in safe mode?
Answers:
Hi Albertross.
I tried to backup but don't have the back up tool. I believe it is on the xp disk (legitimate copy) as an add on tool, but couldn't work out exactly how to run that.
chkdsk - Sorry, can you explain that to me.
I am sure I have no malware as I have run the malware program mentioned in sticky quite recently - Thanks again to pchelpman.
Registery error does not come up at every boot. I believe error line 14 and 15 is something to do with the country. Could this be down to IE 7??
I have checked all the external cabling, and all seem ok.
Event log - Sorry please explain that one to me also.
Safe mode - no problems.
XP copy is legit.
Newboy
Answers:
It could be that your hard disk is failing.
How to run chkdsk:
Norton can cause issues. I would personally NEVER run it.AVG is a better bet or even Nod32.Try running Adaware too as this can catch stuff that Spybot misses.
Also try using Firefox or Opera web browsers.I use IE only when I really need to!
Answers:
start, run, chkdsk c: /F /R (do the same on all drives f: etc..)
start run, eventvwr
check internal cabling, esp the hard disk ribbon cable.
Do you still have an c:\autoexec.bat or c:\config.sys on this PC, if so, could you post it's contents.
Try a full service scan here:
XP backup..
or
or
or
1st 2 are free, second 2 are better but cost money.
Answers:
to be honest if your computer is 7 years old I would say it is time to get a new computer.
Failing the money for that I would format the whole thing as it is probably long overdue. Have you ever formatted it in 7 years? personally it is something I do once a year as over time your computer tends to get more and more clogged up with redudent lines in the registry and all sorts of other things viaing for your computers attention which causes it to slowly chug to a halt.
I definetly wouldn't take it to a shop to be repaired, you could probably buy a semi decent computer at dell for the money they would make you fork out.
Answers:
It sounds to me like the drive with XP on is the problem which is why when it cant find that drive to boot from,it tries to boot windows 98 on the other drive.
When you tapped the side it worked so it could be that the XP drive cables have come loose and sometimes they work fine and sometimes not because the connection is iffy.
If you take off the back of the case(unplug ofcourse) look at the newer XP drive and push all the connectors in firmly (should be 2 ,a little squarish one and a longish flat one) then follow the flat cable coming out of the flat one and ensure the other end is securely in the motherboard.
If the processor is an old one,the screensavers will probably effect how fast it runs at(this happened with one of our older PC's).
Have you defragmented it lately,that will keep it running faster .
Check you havent set it to automatically defragment too often else it might be defragmenting invisibly which will make it crawl and if the screensaver is active it can force it to virtually stop.
Make sure you have empty space on the drive too as it will slow down when it is packed full.
HTH
Answers:
Hey All
Listen, I just went and typed out a whole story of what I've done since you offered advice, walked away from my pc for a while, and came back and had been logged out
Ssssoooooooo......
I have run chkdsk (scheduled at startup) - all completed no probs
I have checked all internal connections - no probs
I ran defrag - problem started!!
Kept telling me to boot with CD / disk - ok done that, but then re-start's the boot up process again and tells me to boot with cd!!
OR
F8 and go to last known good startup - ok - but then, coz the last time I started up, I scheduled in a chkdsk, so goes through this process no probs, and then tells me to boot with cd
So, a friend of a friend (supposed to be the dog's blks), is taking a look and fingers crossed will find and rectify the prob. (More like he will tell me it's gonna cost and that ain't worth it).
Anyway, thought I would update all those who were kind enough to make some suggestions. Of course, if anyone has any more thoughts or suggestions as to the root of the problem, please carry on and let me know.
Thanks again
Newboy
Answers:
Hi lemming64.
What do you mean by 'formatting'? I may have done it, but not known it as formatting.
Thanks
newboy
Answers:
Formatting is where you completely wipe everything off a hard drive, including Windows and all files you have stored there. You then have to reinstall Windows (for which you'll need the XP CD or a recovery CD) and reinstall any programs etc.
Answers:
Ok guys, finall installment!!
It was my hard drive that packed up! So, as my pc was approx 7years old, I just threw caution to the wind and bought myself a new pc.
I have since found out that my hard drive may have been under a year old (memory like a sive, me I mean not my old pc), and could have had it replaced under warranty!!
I'll continue to try and find my receipt, and then I have a back up for the kiddies to use as and when they ar old enough.
Anyway, as I said earlier, many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.
Newboy
Answers:
What make is the hard disc? It usually comes under a manufacturer's warranty so you may not even need a receipt just the serial number on the hard disc itself.
Answers:
Thanks Superscraper, I'll give that a go.
Will let you know
Newboy
Answers:
Ok, someone else looked at my 'dead' pc, and said that it was actualy a virus that had hit my net bios, and although my hard drive is now corrupt, once disenfected, and xp reinstalled it should be ok!!
I wish I found this out before spending the best part of £700 on a new one!!
Still, I guess it means I will have a 'spare' for junior(s).
Newboy